Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery

right, all right,” Suzie muttered. “Long as nobody’s dead.”
    Vinnie grabbed hold of Suzie’s hand. “Okay, we’re awake, Brooklyn. Sort of.”
    “Come on, then.” I walked swiftly out the door and headed for the stairs.
    “Can’t you tell us what’s going on?” Vinnie asked as they both jogged to keep up with me.
    “You’ll see soon enough,” I said cryptically. I wasn’t about to tell them about Lily all by myself. I wouldn’t know where to start or how to say it. This was something they simply had to see for themselves.
    Seconds later, we made it back to the Blue Room and I introduced them to the two visitors. Gabriel stood in the far corner of the room, holding Lily. Vinnie and Suzie were still blinking and not entirely awake, so Sandra suggested they sit on the couch while she stood and patiently explained everything all over again.
    Suzie got as far as hearing that her friends had been killed in a car accident. “No!” she cried, and jumped up. “No, that’s impossible. I just saw them last week.” She turned to Vinnie. “We had dinner with them. Right? We were celebrating. Maris landed a job at Apple and Teddy was going to start grad school. They just had Lily.” She gasped. “What about Lily? Oh, my God, is she all right? Oh, my God. Oh, my God.”
    Suzie crumpled onto the couch. Vinnie wrapped her arms around her and Suzie sobbed into her shoulder. My own eyes were damp and so were Vinnie’s. I felt so bad for my friends. I didn’t even know Teddy and Maris, but my heart hurt for all that had been lost. This was such a tragedy, and there was more to come.
    Vinnie finally looked up at Sandra. “What has happened to Lily?”
    Sandra looked nonplussed, then realized that neither of the women had noticed Gabriel standing out of the way the whole time she’d been talking. Sandra motioned him forward and he strolled over to the couch.
    “Lily’s right here, safe and sound,” he said quietly. “And beautiful.”
    Vinnie stared. Her mouth drifted open, then closed, and I watched her stiffen as realization dawned.
    The movement caused Suzie to stir. “What? What is it?”
    Vinnie shook her head slowly. “Oh, my…”
    Suzie looked up then. “What’s going on?”
    Sandra put her hand on Lily’s back in a protective gesture. “Teddy and Maris appointed you, Susannah, Lily’s guardian if anything ever happened to them. They knew you would take good care of her. That’s why we’re here. We’re turning the baby over to you.”
    “What?” Suzie shrieked.
    Vinnie instantly grabbed her in a tight hug. “Shhhh.”
    “Vinnie, let me go,” Suzie said, wide awake now and close to flipping out. Her eyes were red; tears streaked her cheeks. She wore an old bathrobe and her hair was sticking straight up, but she managed to look dignified as she faced the strangers across from her. “Now, look, lady. If this is some kind of a joke, it’s not funny.”
    “Suzie, please,” I said, and moved closer to stand by Gabriel and the baby. I took a peek, grateful that Lily was asleep and missing most of the drama. I knew how Suzie felt. This was a huge shock and she was so stunned she probably wasn’t aware of what she was saying. So I kept my voice calm as I told her softly, “Of course it’s not a joke. Lily needs you.”
    “But…” Dignity slipped and terror returned. “It’s not possible.”
    “Suzie, come here,” Gabriel said gently.
    Suzie’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
    “Suzie, don’t be silly,” Vinnie said. She stood and walked up to Gabriel, who turned the baby around so that Vinnie could take her. Vinnie rocked Lily in her arms, then pushed the thick blanket back so she could see her face better. “Poor little sweet thing, so tiny and all alone. But not anymore. Suzie, come say hello to our Lily.”
    Suzie shook her head, but it didn’t mean anything and we all knew it. She was helpless against both the woman she loved and the baby who needed her. Finally, Suzie sighed in acquiescence. She stood and wrapped her arms around both Lily and Suzie. They swayed together and I could hear Suzie’s sniffles as she continued to mourn her friends. After several minutes, Suzie finally opened her tear-filled eyes and whispered, “What are we going to do with her, Vinnie?”
    “We will love her,” Vinnie said, and passed the baby into Suzie’s arms.
    Early the next morning I dressed quickly and went to check on Suzie and Vinnie to see if they had gotten any sleep. I